Cut Resistant Gloves

Cut injuries are the most common hand injury on Australian worksites, and they are also the easiest to design out with the right glove. Every cut resistant model below carries an EN 388:2016+A1:2018 rating, so you can match a measured level of protection to a measured hazard rather than guessing.

How to read the EN 388:2016+A1:2018 code

EN 388 prints six characters under the hammer pictogram, and each one is a separate test. Read them left to right. They are not a single score and a higher first digit does not make a glove more cut resistant.

Position one is abrasion, rated 1 to 4, measured by the number of cycles of sandpaper needed to wear through the palm. Position two is the coup test cut level, rated 1 to 5, where a circular blade rotates across the sample under a fixed load. Position three is tear resistance, rated 1 to 4, the force needed to continue a tear once it has started. Position four is puncture resistance, rated 1 to 4, using a blunt stylus. Position five is the TDM cut level, rated A to F, and position six is impact, marked P if the glove passes and left blank if impact was not tested.

Why the TDM letter matters most

The coup test blade is reused across the whole test, so a hard liner made from glass fibre or steel blunts it as the test proceeds. The result reads higher than the material really deserves. The TDM test, defined in EN ISO 13997, drops a straight blade once and reports the force in newtons required to cut through at 20 mm of travel, which removes the blunting problem entirely.

For that reason, treat the letter in position five as the real cut number. A is the lowest at 2 newtons, F is the highest at 30 newtons and above. If you are comparing two gloves and only one publishes a letter, compare on the letter and ignore the coup digit.

Why an X sometimes appears in the coup position

When the blade blunts beyond the allowed limit during the coup test, the standard requires the laboratory to mark that position with an X and report the TDM letter instead. An X is not a failure and it is not a missing test. It usually signals a genuinely high performing liner, which is why you often see codes such as 4X42D or 4X43F on the strongest models in the range.

Cross referencing ANSI/ISEA 105

Australian buyers see both European and North American markings, because equipment arrives from both supply chains. ANSI/ISEA 105 uses the same straight blade principle as the TDM test but reports nine bands, A1 to A9, in grams of load rather than newtons.

The bands do not line up one to one, so convert carefully. As a working guide, ANSI A2 sits near EN level B, A3 and A4 sit near C, A5 and A6 sit near D or E, and A7 and above sit at E or F. Where a specification names an ANSI level and the glove in front of you carries an EN letter, ask for the newton figure and compare that directly.

Liner materials and how coating changes the result

Cut resistance comes from the liner, not the coating. High performance polyethylene liners give a high cut level at low weight and stay cool against the skin, which suits long shifts in a warm climate. Blended liners that add glass fibre or fine steel raise the cut level further at the same gauge, but they feel firmer and can be uncomfortable for precision work. Aramid liners add heat resistance alongside cut resistance, which is why they appear in hot work applications.

The coating decides grip, not protection. Polyurethane is thin and gives the best fingertip feel on dry parts. Nitrile foam works when parts are oily, because the foam cells break the oil film. Full nitrile or latex dips add abrasion life and liquid resistance but cost you dexterity. Sandy and crinkle finishes add mechanical grip in the wet.

Choosing a level for the task

Start with the hazard, not the catalogue. Handling cardboard, timber and general components rarely needs more than level B or C. Sheet metal, glass and steel strapping justify D. Blade contact during trimming, boning or blade changes justifies E or F.

Then check the fit. A glove that is too large bunches in the palm and slips, and workers remove gloves that make a task harder. Where a high cut level makes a task impossible, look at a lower level glove with a better coating and a tool or guard change instead. Protection that stays on the hand always beats a higher rating in a drawer.

Cut Resistant range

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between EN 388 cut level 5 and cut level F?

They come from two different tests. The digit 5 is the highest coup test result, using a rotating circular blade that can blunt against hard liners and overstate performance. The letter F is the highest TDM result under EN ISO 13997, using a straight blade in a single pass, and it represents 30 newtons or more. The letter is the more reliable figure.

Does a higher cut level mean a safer glove?

Only against cutting. EN 388 reports abrasion, tear, puncture and impact separately, and a glove with a high cut letter can still have modest puncture resistance. Match each rating to the hazards present, and remember that a stiff high level glove that is removed for fiddly work provides no protection at all.

How do I convert an ANSI cut level to an EN 388 letter?

There is no exact conversion because the two scales report different units and use different band widths. As a guide, ANSI A2 is close to EN level B, A3 and A4 sit near C, A5 and A6 near D or E, and A7 and above at E or F. Where a specification is critical, compare the underlying newton or gram figures.

Can cut resistant gloves be washed and reused?

Knitted liners can generally be laundered, and washing restores grip by removing oil from the coating. Follow the care instruction on the product page, wash at the stated temperature and check the palm for thin spots, exposed liner or splits before returning a glove to service. Any glove showing liner damage should be replaced.

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